This shared practice session for cultural facility managers focused on condition assessments for cultural facilities, featuring a case study presentation by Todd Mayher, AIA, an architect and project manager at DLR Group about the Pro Football Hall of Fame modernization project. Todd presented how his team conducted a facilities assessment report in 2023 to evaluate the existing building’s capacity to support new additions, including a lobby addition and future event center. The assessment evaluated whether the existing building could incorporate modernization projects and, if not, what upgrades would be necessary to do so. The FCA was used to keep the project on track, identify capital work needed, and manage scope adjustments.

Some key take-aways:

• It is important to consider forecast needs associated with expansions and changes in use along with the equipment life cycle assessment. For example, increasing plug loads and de-carbonization may present significant likely increases in electrical load beyond the current capacity.
• For a thorough FCA, the team may include architect, structural, mechanical, electrical, security designers, the building FM staff, and cost estimator
• Challenges include how long the FCA lifespan will be (before outdated), and how well the replacement costs align with project costs (project costs are always higher and include more than just the equipment update, especially if work is done while a facility is open) s, industry standards for condition ratings, and how to separate capital improvements from routine replacements in facility planning.
• There is no known industry standard for ratings (good, fair) or risk levels (managed, reactive, crisis) although some consultants and organizations have and use these.
• Several organizations noted that they track capital improvements (new or expanded facility needs) separately from capital repairs (equipment in place vs. expected lifespan).